Franklin County approves $799,999 for Celebrate 1 infant-mortality outreach

Franklin County commissioners on April 29 approved a $799,999.30 subaward to Celebrate 1 to expand infant-mortality interventions, health education and outreach across the county.

Carmen Barnes, assistant director of Job and Family Services, presented the request and said the county has been a partner with Celebrate 1 since the initiative’s inception. Danielle Tong, Celebrate 1 executive director, told commissioners the county’s preliminary infant mortality rate is 7.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 10.8 a decade ago, and said Celebrate 1 will continue distributing cribs and sleep sacks and expanding outreach and evaluation with Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Tong stressed that gains have been uneven by race: she said the non-Hispanic Black infant mortality rate is about 10 per 1,000 live births — the lowest it has been during the program’s history but still well above target — while the non-Hispanic white rate is about 4.7 per 1,000. She described Celebrate 1’s strategy as building a “village” of supports around families, including doulas, community health workers and home visitors.

The resolution (29925) was moved, seconded and approved; Commissioners recorded “yes” votes and the resolution was adopted.

The county and Celebrate 1 said the funding will support expanded communications campaigns, continued crib distribution, teen reproductive-health education and evaluation work with Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Tong urged continued state and federal alignment for sustaining progress and noted recent budget changes affecting doula reimbursement at the state level.

Next steps: the county will execute the subaward and Celebrate 1 will continue program operations and evaluation.